A lower-middle-class man named Nandan (Kunal Kemmu) finds a large trolley-bag outside a urinal somewhere in Mumbai. It is way past midnight and a shot from inside the bag gives a glimpse of his popping eyes. This cash-stacked bag is the film’s pivot – it is the loot case. The […]
Read Time : 9 Minutes
‘Dil Bechara’ review – Sushant Singh Rajput headlines a film about death and closure
The moment you hit the play button, you know where Dil Bechara is headed. It would still be an emotional ride to a routine Indian viewer even if it were to be a Fast & Furious-styled actioner. Mukesh Chhabra’s film makes it further difficult for us. Its much loved leading […]
Read Time : 10 Minutes
‘Rajnigandha’: About a Fragrance That Smells Like Love
“Adhikaar ye jabse saajan ka har dhadkan par maana maine Main jabse unke saath bandhi, ye bhed tabhi jaana maine Kitna sukh hai bandhan mein…’ Rajnigandha phool tumhare bikhre yunhi jeevan mein…” Writes lyricist Yogesh for Basu Chatterjee’s Rajnigandha. The words roughly translate to: “Since I’ve given him every right […]
Read Time : 6 Minutes
‘Baaghi 3’ review – Tiger Shroff defying physics and logic for world peace is a recipe nobody asked for
Let me put it in simple terms. All external artifices aside, Baaghi 3 is the most well-intentioned Hindi film of the year, so far. Clearly, if Panga had a heart of gold, this Tiger Shroff film has one handcrafted in platinum. Naysayers may allege the makers for their kindergarten level […]
Read Time : 8 Minutes
‘Avengers: Endgame’ – action, emotions, and nostalgia on a picture-perfect platter
One film, a wide array of characters and endless possibilities. To conceptualize a franchise finale like Avengers: Endgame might easily be the most gargantuan challenge for commercial filmmakers. Because my favourite characters might not be the same for the person next to me in the cinema. While I might be […]
Read Time : 5 Minutes
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ review – Rami Malek triumphant lead salvages a dramatic biopic
Filmmaker Bryan Singer’s Bohemian Rhapsody has a gargantuan task to fulfill – to lend a touch of cinematic magic to an already magical story. In one of the most famous and lively stories in the history of music, Freddie Mercury and his band Queen are no easy subjects for a […]
Read Time : 6 Minutes
‘Helicopter Eela’ review – This inane film has no choice but to crash-land
Helicopter Eela is a bizarre film. One with a weirdly articulated and insecure-sounding title, this Pradeep Sarkar directorial takes us through a range of unwelcome emotions – cringe, disbelief, exasperation – you name it, this film has it all. Presented as a breezy (and maybe a little loud) mother-son comedy-drama, […]
Read Time : 5 Minutes
‘Love Sonia’ review – Uncovers flesh trade and limitless human spirit
It is a difficult deal for films that attempt to picture the loss of innocence – especially where there are children and teenagers robbed of their basic right to be themselves. These stories agitate and sadden us while imparting what might simply be an uncomfortable social reality. Filmmaker Tabrez Noorani’s […]
Read Time : 3 Minutes
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ review – an overlong space epic where the villain leads the pack
A magnum opus that contains several of the MCU heroes, complete with overpowering visuals. A villain with an identity and rock solid stakes. The brief for Avengers: Infinity War would be tempting for a screenwriter. How do we include them all and still mete justice to each? Not to mention […]
Read Time : 7 Minutes
‘Baahubali 2’ review – the visual spectacle it was meant to be
One must give it to SS Rajamouli for being the one-of-a-kind visionary he is in Indian film industry today. To shatter the opening number records otherwise dominated by the Khan triumvirate is no mean deal. Heck, the season almost feels festive. Film viewers in a nation of 1.3 billion are […]